Blank-feeding mechanism for pressing machines



May 25 1926.

H. A. DWYER BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed May 17, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE/YTO M flTTOR/YE Y.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. A. DWYER May 25 1926.

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed May 17. 1924 H. A. DWYER BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES May 25 Filed May 17, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet '5 hm i lnve'r/Zan ARRY A DWYER 2&1

TTDRNEK Fatented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES HARRY A. DWYER, 0F MARION, INDIANA.

BLANK-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES.

Application filed May 17,

This invention relates to improvements in machines for the producing of articles of pressed ware.

In machines of this class intended for the forming of articles of light sheet metal, or of paper board, and like fibrous materials, the difficulty in the manipulation of the material andof the handling of same by the machine, has resulted in mutilation and loss of material, interruption in mechanical operation, and consequently, a lack of efliciency in production.

In machines for the forming of paper products it is customary to supply to the machine by operatives the paper blanks which are to be formed into the article desired, such as pans, plates, dishes, trays and the like.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a machine capable of extracting from the supply of blanks, provided therefor, a blank or blanks; and of transporting the blank or blanks so extracted to the location where they are to be pressed, and for the discharge of the finished article from the machine.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by, and the invention is embodied in the machine consisting of the new con struction, combination, and arrangement of parts described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is defined in the appended claims. The several parts of. the invention are identified by suitable characters of reference applied thereto on the different views in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine as seen in the direction indicated by arrow 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3-is an enlargedvertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33, and seen in direction of the arrow in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view on the line in Figure 3, the plunger parts of the pressing mechanism being not shown.

Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 6 and seen in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 3, the several parts however being shown in the respective positions occupied by them, at the stage in the operation when the blank has been delivered. to the matrix plate.

1.924. Serial No. 714,161.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-8 in Figure l.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9 9 in Figure 4.

Figure 10 is a detached plan view of outlet piece of the blank rack.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view of. Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12 in Figure 10. y

'The machine frame -consists of a metal plate 1 which rests securely on the legs 2 and'3. The vertical frame members, l, 5, and 6, have their bottoms secured to the plate 1, and are retained securely at spaced positions as shown, by the top member 7. The shaft 8 which has bearing in the journal boxings 9 of the vertical frame members has a pulley 10 secured thereon and over which pulley a driving belt A' is operated. I

The present embodiment of. my invention is comprised in two machines, arranged in alignment, and with a single conveyer underneath them to receive the finished product. The functioning and the construction, combination and arrangement of the ma.- chines being similar, a descriptionof their mechanisms is given in singular, as follows.

The matrix 11 in which the pressed article is formed, is supported'by a bolster block 12 of usual construction havinga chamber 13, in which is operable a heater device 14 supplied with gas which is fed to same through a pipe 15. The form of the matrix may be of any suitable fanciful de sign, the matrix plate being removably retained by cap screws 11. Matrix'plates of various forms may be had, any one of which may be easily interchanged for the one shown. A matrix head 16 which occupies the central bore of the bolster block has a' downwardly disposed stem 17 which is passed through opening 1 therefor in the frame plate 1, and in the frame arm 18, as seen in Figure 3. A coil spring 19 having its lower and upper ends to bear against the arms 18 and a cross pin 20 of the said stem, respectively, urges the matrix head upwardly; the extent of its upward movement being limited by the nut 21 that is threaded on the said stem.

The die 22, which has contour to register with the said matrix, has its shank provided with hollow interior 23 into which, fuel gas is introducedthrough pipe 24. At

the

'' row in Figure 3.

perforations innnediately adjacent to the die22, the gas flame plays against the in terior surface of the die.

The flange26 of the die shank is secured to a plunger head 27 whose vertical arms 27 are retained slidingly in the guideways 28 which may be formed integral with or may be bolted to the upright frame members 4, 5, and 6.

In the central vertical bore of the plunger head 27 is disposed a cushion element consisting of a steel spring 29 upon which is disposed a cross head 30 which occupies position slidingly in said plunger head. In vertical openings in the sides of the cross head, rest the journals 31 of a roller 32. A cam 33 which is secured to the shaft 8 in alignment with the plunger head, as shown in Figure 3, performs the function of lowering the die, and of causing the die to dwell a desired length of time at the pressing position, and of then permitting the die to he quickly retracted or raised. The direction of travel of the cam is indicated by the ar- 33 designates the dwelling face, 33 designates the retractory face, and 33 designates the depressing face of the cam. The plunger head is supported and urged upwardly, with its roller 82 in engagement with the cam, by a bar 34 secured to the armQT of the plunger head and which extends up through an opening in the frame top member 7. A spring 35 between the member 7, and a cross pin 34 of the said bar 34 urges the latter upwardly.

At a location near the pressing mechanism is disposed a rack in which to retain a supply of blanks, and which rack is provided with a throat piece at its bottom, as shown in Figure 3. This rack may be composed of a light metal shell 40, of curvature in cross section, to conform with the shape of the paper blank (in the present instance, a disk about five inches in diameter) to be used. The cast metal throat piece 41 has the opening 41 vof diameter slightly larger than that of the interior of the rack shell 40, and it is fastened to frame bar 42, at a plane immediately above the plane of a reciprocable table 43. This table has its bearing blocks 44 slidingly disposed on the guide bars 45, and has a mouth 46 at its forward portion of form as shown in Figure 4. The said mouth is provided with a lip 46 at its bottom rear edge, and it registers underneath the opening 41 of the throat piece when the table is at the retracted position, its function being to receive the blank that is released through the throat piece. A flat metal bar, designated as a segregator blade 47 and having the attenuated front end or nose 47 has its rear end secured to a raised rear portion 48 of the table, and is in central alignment with and on a plane above the said throat piece; adjustment of the height of the blade is had by an adjusting screw 48. At the projected position ofthe table, the said blade will have passed between the blanks and bridged the throat piece. The blank that is below the blade at this moment is supported by the prongs of a support element which will presently be referred to. On the table, and at registration underneath the segregator blade, and extending to the edge of the mouth 46, is a deck 49 which, with the movement of the table, passes through recesses 4.1 in the underside of the throat piece. The top of the deck thus being at a height above the bottom of the throat piece, the blank which is received into the throat piece is retained against any possibility of transverse dislodgment. It will be observed that the point 47 of the blade is located a short distance to the rear of the edge of the mouth 46.

Operable at the mouth 46 and above the plane of the bottom of the table is a pallet 50 which may be of thin sheet metal. A spring metal arm 51 which supports the pallet, has its rear end fastened to a frame member 52. The form and arrangement of the arm 51 is such that it urges upwardly and against the lip 46 of the mouth 46, the pallet being held at a plane inclined slightly upwardly in the direction toward the pressing mechanism. The blank is received in the mouth 46, and on the pallet, is held at a position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 3. Thus the action of the pallet and of the mouth 46 as the table moves forwardly is to gradually lower the blank to the plane of the matrix plate, and to which it is delivered as the table reaches the limit of its forward travel.

A device to support in the rack, the supply of blanks, and which device may be operated to withdraw said support at the mo ment the segregator blade will have passed between the blanks and bridged the throat piece, consists of the parts as follows: At each side of the rack 40, is a bar 53, which has its forward end pivotally connected to a frame member 54, supported by arms 55 that extend from the uprights 4 and 6. These bars 53 are drawn toward each other by a spring 56, their inner faces bearing against the sides of the rack, as shown in Figure 4, and their COiTlPlGIIlGDtZl-l inturncd prongs 57 projecting through apertures 40 of the rack. These prongs register at a plane imn'iediately below that of the point of the segregator blade. Trips 57 on the arms 43 of the table, make contact with the tapered faces 53 of the bars 53 causing them to spread, and thereby to withdraw the prongs 57, from their engagement between the blanks, at the moment when the blade will have passed between the blanks and bridged the said throat piece. On a shaft (i whose ends are journaled on frame members 61, a finger 62 is secured at position in front of each rack. coil spring 63 whose end is ill! secured to frame member 61, and whose other end is secured to arm 64 of shaft 60, urges the finger 62 to forward position. The sides of the finger register atv each side of the segregator blade and press firmly against the blanks thus preventing the blanks from being dislodged transversely by the segregator blade. A pawl 65 that is secured to the shaft 60, is engaged by a trip 66 of the table, when the latternears the limit of its forward stroke causes the finger to retract at the moment the blade. will have been withdrawn from the throat piece, thus permitting the blank that is below the blade, to drop into the throat piece.

At the front edge of the table are disposed spars 67 which make engagement with the edge of the article that has been'formed by the press, and push it from the matrix plate, as the table reaches the projected position.

The finished articles being discharged from the presses, slide down the trough 68 and then may be transported from the machine by suitable means, such as a conveyor belt 69 arranged bet-ween side members 7 0 and running over pulleys 71 and 72 which may be journaled on the machine frame. Power transmitting connections for the shaft 73 of pulley 72 may consist of a belt 74 running over a pulley 7 2 and the pulley 75 that is secured to driving shaft 8.

Power transmitting connections to reciprocate the table 43, consist of a sprocket chain 7 6 which runs from a socket 77 that is secured to driving shaft 8, to sprocket 78 that is secured to the shaft 79. The shaft 79 is journaled in suitable bearings on frame members 55, and on each end of this shaft is a crank 80. Between the wrist pin of the cranks 80 and the wrist bearings on the ends of a frame bar 81 extended from the sides of the projector member, are connecting rods 82. 1

Inasmuch as the matrix head and die are shown of the form to produce a circular dish shaped article, the blank is of a disk shape. It is obvious that any fanciful. form of die and matrix head may be used, either round or angular, in which event the form of blank is varied accordingly. The present inachii-ie being intended for the handling of paper products it is understood that the die and matrix are heated to the desired degree of temperature before operation of the machine is commenced.

In readiness to operate there will have been placed in loaded position in the rack a0 and upon the prongs 57 of the support bars 53, the supply of blanks. The relative positions of the several parts of the invention. are plainly shown in detail, especial reference being had to Figures 3, 4, and 7.

With the actuation of the drive shaft 8, the table 4-3 starts forward, face 33 of the rain 33 will have passed and then the ram face 33 permits the plunger head and die to rise, the spars 67 (see Figure 4) will have pushed off from the matrix plate the finished dish. The paper blank in the mouth 46 and resting on the pallet 50' is so poised that as the table moves forward and the degree of incline of the pallet is changed, the blank is gradually lowered to the plane of the matrix plate and is deposited at place under the die head plunger. In this transporting of the blank, it is so controlled that all tendency of the blank to become displaced or perhaps mutilated is overcome.

At one half of the rearward travel. of the table one quarter of revolution of the cranl-z 80) the blade 47 has started across the throat piece ll (plunger 27 is at raised position). With the completion of the forward travel of the table (one half of revolution of the crank wheel 80) the blade will have crossed the throat piece,-at this moment the trips 57 will have engaged the faces 53 of the bars 53, causing withdrawal of the prongs 57, and permitting the release of the blank that is below the blade.

Coincidently with the start rearwardly by the table, the die is quickly lowered, and as the table continues in its receding movement the cam face 33 will have become operative, the die being caused to dwell at its position of pressing engagement with the matrix.

The holder bars 53 will have been returned to their normally indrawn position shown in Figure 4, the prongs resuming their func-' tion of supporting the blanks. At this moment of the receding of the blade &7, and its point leaving the opening 41 of throat piece, the blank drops onto the deck 49, the forward portion of the blank settling down on the pallet 50, Thewalls of the mouth 46 prevent the blank from slipping off of the said pallet. With completion of the rearward travel of the table the deck 49 will have passed from under the blank whence the rearward side of the blank settles on the lip 46 and the pallet 50 and then rests at the dotted line position shown in Figure During the last quarter of revolution of the crank 80, and the completion of the rearward travel of the table there is the dwelling still, of the die. During the retractive move ment of, or at the moment the blade point 47 leaves the opening 41, any possible tendency of the blank to follow the blade is prevented by the finger 62 whose points hold firmly against the blanks immediately at the blade. At the moment the blade will have retracted clear of the opening al of the throat piece, there is the movement of the finger 62 which releases its hold. This permits the lowermost blank to drop, and permits the superincumbent blanks to settle down to true supported position on the prongs. As soon as the table will have again started on its forward travel, the trip 66 being disengaged from the pawl 65, the spring acts, thereby returning the finger (22 to on 'agement with the blanks. The depressure exerted by the finger 62, is

controlled by an adjustment nut 64 on a check bar ea liliat frame inen'iber (5.

it will be understood that changes may be made in the form and structure of the several part and details of the machine, within of the invention as defined by the is extended from the Y claim as my v fitters l tabl havii.

, the table is moved to the projected position,

a deck carried by the table centrally of and on a plane above the bottom of the throat piece, and upon which deck the blank is received, the forward end of said deck being beyond the nose of the said blade, a trip on the table to move the support when the segreg-ztor blade will have reached the projected position and whereby the blank which has been segregated is permitted to drop into the throat piece, a pallet operable at said mouth to support the blank at an incline, and to gradually lower the blank to a hori Zontal plane as the table moves to the projected position, a finger to hold against the lowermost blanks to prevent their transverse displacement when the blade is retracted, means to cause retraction of the finger at the moment the segregator blade leaves the throat piece, and power transmitting connections between the driving shaft and the table.

2. A machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a driving shaft, a rack in which to retain a supply of blanks, a throat piece underneath the rack, a reciprocable table having a mouth to register underneath the throat piece when the table is at retracted position, a movable support on a plane above that of the throat piece and having prongs to extend beyond the inner edge of the throat piece and which said supportwhen moved operates to withdraw said prongs clear of the throat piece, a segregator blade carried by the table'intermediate and at a plane above the prongs, to pass between the blanks and bridge the throat piece when the table is moved to the projected position, a deck carried by the table centrally of and on a plane above the bottom of the throat piece, and upon which deck the blank is received, the forward end of said deck being beyond the nose of the said blade, a trip on the table to move the support when the segregator blade will have reached the projected position and whereby the blank which has been segregated is permitted to drop into the throat piece, a pallet operable at said mouth to support the blank at an incline, and to gradually lower the blank to a horizontal plane as the table moves to the projected position, and power transmitting connections between the driving shaft and the table.

3. A machine of the kind described, comprising a stationary throat piece into which a blank is deposited, a reciprocable table having a mouth to register underneath the throat piece when the table is at retracted position, a deck carried by the table centrally of and on a plane above the bottom of the throat piece and upon which deck the blank is received, a pallet operable at said mouth to support the blank at an incline, and to gradually lower the blank to a horizontal plane as the table moves to the projected position.

4. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a frame, a driving shaft, a rack in which to retain a supply of blanks, a throat piece underneath the rack, a reciproeable table, a movable support on a plane above that of the throat piece and having prongs to extend beyond the inner edge of the throat piece and which said support when moved operates to withdraw said prongs clear of the throat piece, a segregator blade carried by the table intermediate and at a plane above the prongs, to pass between the blanks and bridge the throat piece when the table is moved to the projected position, a deck carried by the table centrally of and on a plane above the bottom of the throat piece and upon which deck the blank is received, the forward end of said deck being beyond the nose of the said blade, a trip on the table to move the support when the segregator blade will have reached the projected position and whereby the blank which has been segregated is permitted to drop into the throat piece, and power transmitting connections between the driving shaft and the table.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, a rack in which a supply of blanks is retained, a withdrawable support for the blanks, a reciprocable table underneath the rack, means to reciprocate the table, a segregator blade carried by the table at a height above the plane of the said support, devices to withdraw the support means when the segregator blade is at position between the blanks and to return the support means to normal position as the said blade is retracted, and means to discharge the segregated blank from the reciprocable table.

6. A machine of the kind described, comprising a frame, a matrix supported by the frame, a rack in which supply of blanks is retained, a throat piece underneath the rack, a reciprocable table having a mouth to register underneath the throat piece when the table is at retracted position, the plane of the matrix being below that of the said table, means to reciprocate the table, a withdrawable support for the blanks, a segregator blade carried by the table at a height above the plane of said withdrawable sup-- port, devices to withdraw the support means when the segr-egator blade is at position between the blanks and to return the support means to normal position as the said blade is retracted, and arms projected from the forward portion of the opening of the mouth of the table, to shift the discharged blank from the surface of the matrix.

7. A blank feeding mechanism of the kind described, comprising a rack in which a supply of blanks is contained, means for removing a blank from the supply, a reciprocabl-e transport device to receive and retain the removed blank and to lower same, means to support said blank at its initial lowered position and while retained in said transport device, and which said support means is operable by the transport device to further lower and to permit of the discharge of said blank.

8. A blank feeding mechanism of the kind described. comprising a rack in which a supply of blanks is contained, means for removinga blank from the supply. a reciprocable transport device to receive the removed blank from the rack and to lower and retain same, means to support said blank during its retention in said transport device. and which said support means is operable by the transport device in its forward movement to further lower and to permit of the discharge of said blank, and a sweeper element in advance of the transport device.

9, A blank feedinqmechanism for pressing machines, comprising a rack in which a supply of blanks is contained, means for removing a blank from the supply, a reciprocable transport means to receive an d retain the removed blank and discharge same at the matrix, a device to support said blank during the movement of the transport means and which is operable by said transport means to lower the blank to a plane coin cident with that of the matrix.

10. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a rack in which a supply of blanks is contained, means to remove a blank from the supply, a reciprocable table having a deck thereon and a mouth therein to so cooperate with the rack and the blank removing; means, that with the forward movement of the table the removed blank is received upon the said deck at a plane above the bottom of the table. and that upon the retractive travel of the table is permitted to pass into the said mouth. a lip at the rear edge of said mouth. a pallet cooperating with the lip of said mouth to support the said blank at upwardlv inclined position. and to gradually lower the blank to a substantially horizontal plane as the table moves to the proiected position. the said mouth being ada ted to permit the discharge of the blank as the latter is pushed bevond said pallet.

11,. A. machine of the kind described. com prising a rack in which a supplv of blanks is contained. means to remove a blank from the supply. a throat piece into which the removed blank is received. a reciprocable table having a mouth opening from the front portion of the table and to register underneath the throat piece when the table is at retracted position. a deck carried by the table on a plane above the bottom of the throat piece and being; of width less than the HARRY A. DWYER. 

